Dual wielding volcanoes, killing through the west

"..."

“We didn’t do anything, to be precise…” Zhang Renfeng’s tone was somewhat complicated, “It was him who saved himself.”

"In any case, this is the only gift I can offer as a token of my gratitude, so please don't refuse it!"

As he spoke, the shopkeeper picked up one of the exquisitely crafted, gleaming saddles. Zhang Renfeng immediately recognized that it was custom-made from some kind of animal hide. Not only did it feel excellent to the touch, but the shape and weight of the entire saddle were also top-notch, making it a rare find.

"This is a wild horse saddle made of mountain lion skin, and the other is a cowboy saddle made of rattlesnake skin. These are the two best items in my saddlery shop, please be sure to accept them!"

The boss's tone was very firm, "We are just a small family, and this is all we can do. Please consider it a small token of our appreciation!"

……

"Understood." Zhang Renfeng didn't refuse anymore, but nodded to him very solemnly. "I will stay in Saint Quintak for a while. Your son knows the location."

"If you ever run into trouble in the future, remember to come to me."

Chapter 226: More Money Required!

"Mr. Zhang, please wait a moment!"

Little John ran quickly out of the house, but when he saw his father talking to them, he paused, reverting to his hesitant demeanor. Seeing this, the old father, being astute, nodded slightly to Zhang Renfeng and then turned to go back inside.

As a father, he knew very well that his son had been dragged into an abyss. But as John said, a small saddlery shop owner was powerless against this massive black tide.

He also knew that the less he knew about certain things, the safer he was.

……

Seeing that there was no one on the street, John spoke up, "As for the superior who gives Tommy orders, I've only heard his name. Everyone calls him 'Skinny Pete'."

"Skinny Pete?" Zhang Renfeng frowned. "Such a common name, who would be scared off by that?"

"I don't know, but Tommy seems quite afraid of him... He manages the underground boxing betting business in San Quintak. It has a specific time and place, and it's quite formal. It starts with open matches, then narrows them down step by step, and finally they fight in official underground boxing rings. The final winner will have the opportunity to receive a prize, I heard it's $1000."

"Only a thousand?" Xiaomei muttered. "It doesn't seem like that much."

The Red Center Gang is always up to big heists, and Xiao Mei's concept of the US dollar is quite different from that of ordinary people. In fact, this thousand dollars is enough for the participating boxers to beat each other out of their minds.

Those who participate in these kinds of competitions are either energetic cowboys, port workers, or idle thugs in the city. In short, they are all people not well-received by mainstream society. For them, let alone $1000, even $50 would probably be enough for a good beating.

but……

"For Angelo, $700 is just a drop in the ocean compared to what he earns from underground boxing matches, right?"

"Huh?" Xiaomei asked in surprise, "Could it be... that we have to pay to get in?"

“No,” John shook his head. “Every boxing match is a prime betting opportunity, with a huge number of spectators placing bets on the outcome. The higher the level of the fight, the larger the bets become. It’s said that in the world championship bouts, the amount wagered can reach several thousand dollars!”

"It really is a big city; there are so many rich people here," Zhang Renfeng complained from the bottom of his heart.

"Anyway, Mr. Zhang is so skilled, I think... if he were to participate in the competition, he should be able to win all the way up, right?"

"..." Recalling the wall that was once covered with death warrants, Zhang Renfeng gave a somewhat awkward smile, "Oh, it's alright, it's nothing special."

"Mr. Hongzhong, excessive modesty can be annoying~~" Xiaomei complained with half-closed eyes.

“Skinny Pete is Angelo’s confidant. If you want to find out Angelo’s secrets from him, you have to start from the underground boxing rings and fight your way up. The worst-case scenario is that you have to fight your way to the finals. At that point, as the person in charge of this area, he will definitely come out to meet you.”

“Hmm, good strategy, but I’d like to make some modifications.” Zhang Renfeng nodded and smiled, “That would take too long. I’ll just go up there and start fighting! I don’t care who they are, whether they’re contestants, referees, or bodyguards. I’ll beat them all up and make this a big enough scandal.”

"By then, he won't be able to avoid seeing me even if he doesn't want to."

----

"Mmm...delicious...really delicious. I even hired a Frenchman as the chef for this bouillabaisse. Local dishes really do taste best when made by locals. Unlike England, France has some truly excellent dishes."

"According to legend, this dish has a history of over 2500 years. It was originally brought to France by the Greeks, hahaha. But I suspect that even without them, these Frenchmen living near the Mediterranean would have invented this fish soup sooner or later."

“Mayor Mason, and Sheriff Caloway… please do me the honor of having breakfast here. This dish is my highly recommended dish, please do try it.”

Wearing a plaid shirt, with slicked-back hair and a navy blue headband tied around his forehead, this thin man sat at the head of the table, talking incessantly and glibly. His eyes, however, darted around furtively, carefully observing the two people he was hosting at the table.

Mason Lemieux, the actual mayor of Saint Quintac, was in his forties, with a calm demeanor and a thick, graying beard. His beard was quite bushy, and he was very robust, yet his suit was impeccably tailored, giving him an air of meticulousness. He wore wide-rimmed glasses, and behind the lenses, his eyes were always half-open, like a dozing lion.

I've had a few interactions with him, but he's always maintained an ambiguous attitude towards me, never showing excessive closeness, but also never deliberately making things difficult for me. We've managed to get along quite smoothly for a while, without any major friction.

As for Calaway... he was one of the people he hated most—a Western gunslinger who had done countless evil deeds in the past, and suddenly became the sheriff of a big city.

He wore a cowboy hat, his black suit was wide open and almost frayed, casually revealing a red vest, gold buttons, and a white shirt underneath. His black bow tie was crooked, just like his thick beard.

Rude, despicable, utterly ignorant of refined art.

What's wrong with this city? What's wrong with Mayor Mason? Does anyone who can shoot and kill really become a sheriff?

"Ugh... It's fishy and tough. It's not that I can't eat fish, but this kind of dish that's not cooked at all, how come you still have that French chef to support?" Calaway commented on the bouillabaisse, slamming his knife and fork down on the plate with a loud clang.

Angelo's expression changed slightly.

When the underlings near the hall saw this, they were about to step forward, but he waved them off.

“Take my advice, bro,” Calaway said, looking at him with a hint of provocation. “Don’t put this awful stuff in your mouth. You’re rich, aren’t you? Eat something better.”

……

“Haha, Sheriff Caloway… this isn’t to your taste, what a pity.” Angelo’s smile didn’t fade, but his tone turned cold. “Perhaps you prefer Eastern food? Those… things that ‘yellow barbarians’ eat, are more to your liking?”

His tone was full of contempt, and Calaway didn't hold back either.

"what do you mean?"

"Your officer Taylor arrested my man... I have nothing to say about that, haha, that kid doesn't know the rules. I've told him so many times, debt collection is one thing, but you can be a little gentler, right? Don't resort to violence so easily. I've told him so many times, but he just won't listen. What can I do? You arrested him, you were absolutely right, you did a great job!"

Angelo grinned and gave a thumbs up.

Calaway stared at him expressionlessly.

"But... someone smashed his skull in broad daylight, and Officer Taylor did nothing, even letting that out-of-town yellow-haired guy get away. Isn't that a bit..."

……

Calaway lit a cigarette and began to smoke it rather crudely in Angelo's hall. He then looked at him with a slight smile, "Brother, your brother here isn't like those spineless cowards I have, so easily appeased. If you want to bribe me, sorry..."

"You have to pay more!"

Chapter 227: The Amazing Italian

"Enough, Sheriff Caloway. Your words and actions just now were extremely rude to Mr. Angelo. He invited us to breakfast, not for you to fight!"

Before Angelo could erupt, Mason precisely timed his entry, using his authoritative and magnanimous voice to quell the impending conflict.

"What do you mean by 'more money' or 'more money'? Are you implying that most of the employees of the San Quintak City Police Department are bribed by Mr. Angelo? Such baseless and unsubstantiated rumors will greatly affect the city's law and order. Don't bring it up again."

"Please rest assured, Mr. Angelo. We have already taken appropriate disciplinary action against Officer Taylor for his dereliction of duty. Similarly, regarding the foreign horse trader you just mentioned, we have also deployed police resources to conduct further investigations."

Mason's tone was calm and measured. "Are you satisfied with this handling?"

They'd said all they wanted to say, good and bad, so what could Angelo do but feel satisfied? A natural smile returned to his face, and he was about to say something when a henchman rushed in, ignoring the fact that his boss was having dinner with the mayor—enough to show just how serious the situation was. He quickly crossed the magnificent hall, knelt down in front of Angelo, and whispered something.

As he spoke, the Italian's smile slowly disappeared, turning extremely gloomy.

"Excuse me, gentlemen, something has come up..."

"I need to deal with this immediately."

……

He turned and went outside. Several of his most trusted men were already standing there, waiting for his arrival. Judging from the expressions on their faces, this matter was indeed quite serious.

As the leader, I must remain calm at this time.

“So, Mr. Clementa,” Angelo took a deep breath, “the man is dead?”

“Dead.” A slightly overweight man with a mustache nodded. “Yellow Tooth and Carlo were both found dead in the alley this morning. They were killed instantly, decapitated. The cuts on their necks were very clean, not something a novice could do.”

As he spoke, Clementza touched his neck with lingering fear, as if the knife had already slashed his own body.

Such a shocking way of dying is rare even in urban gangs; it's usually only done during executions.

“Damn it…” Angelo wiped his face and squeezed out the words through gritted teeth, “This is fucking coming for me.”

“Panstore, you may not like to hear this, but... I am your strategist, and what needs to be said must be said.” Clementza hesitated for a moment, but still advised, “Forget it, let’s leave it at that. Don’t bother with these outsiders.”

Angelo's expression hardened, as if he couldn't believe it.

Before he could say anything, the tall man with a sinister look and thick eyebrows, who had been standing on Angelo the whole time, spoke up and questioned, "You know what you're saying, Clementza! It was that yellow-toothed bastard who broke the rules first! Our men came to collect the debt and were beaten to death by him. Last night, Skinny Pete lost a lot of his men, Yellow Tooth's casino was robbed, losing more than $2000, and Carlo was also killed."

"So many debts, are you saying you want to wipe them all clean? Whose strategist are you anyway?!"

Faced with a barrage of questions, Clementa remained unmoved, not even sparing a glance, and simply said slowly, "Guido Mattley, you have no right to speak here. When I was fighting the Italians, you were probably still at the docks, unloading cargo, right?"

Guido's already furrowed brows instantly tightened, and he was about to explode when Angelo stopped him with a look.

"...And then, my old friend, what's your advice?" Angelo shrugged. "You want me to just put up with it?"

“I’m telling you not to lose everything you have now, Angelo! Look at yourself.” Clementza gestured excitedly. “Money, beautiful women, power, alcohol… and a high social status, you have it all. Everything you have now is what all of us have worked so hard to build up over the past ten years.”

“During this period, we also paid countless prices, but in the end, we stayed in this city and became the final winners.”

“That man, that horse merchant!” He suddenly raised his hand, pointed out the window, and his tone became more and more agitated. “Can’t you see? He’s a madman! Most people wouldn’t dare to even think about such a thing after hearing about the size and power of our gang, but he did it anyway. Not only did he do it, but the scale is getting bigger and bigger. He’s not afraid of you at all.”

"Think carefully about how hard-won everything you have now is. You are just a mortal, not immortal. Why put yourself in danger?"

……

Since the Italian gang's reputation and status were solidified in San Quintac, Clementa hadn't needed Angelo's advice for a long time. Everything was running smoothly, so there was no need for his strategist to step in.

But now, this city is facing an unprecedented change.

His suggestion, however, did not satisfy the ruler of the shadows.

Angelo looked at him with disappointment and sighed, "I thought this day would never come... You've gotten old, my friend. I've felt it for you these past few years when we went fishing together. You've aged quite a bit."

Clementa closed his eyes, feeling somewhat helpless.

"How did we rise to power? By enduring? By retreating? That's different from what I remember. Back then, who didn't have a few lives on their hands?" Angelo changed his tone. "You say he's not afraid of me? Fine... he should be afraid of me! Because I'll let him know what kind of price he'll pay for daring to offend me in this city!"

“That’s how the Italians do it.” Guido nodded in agreement.

“Clementza, thank you for running this errand for me. The prosecutor, and those corrupt sheriffs, it’s time to get them moving. Intensify the search, give me a full-scale search for that yellow-skinned bastard.” Angelo’s tone hardened. “Is that alright?”

……

This time, the question was asked by the "boss".

Clementa had no choice but to nod, watching as the large ship was about to sail in an irreversible direction.

"Charle, get your men involved and investigate. Find out where this yellow-haired barbarian has been these past few days, and who he's been in contact with. The more details, the better!"

"We've already made some discoveries about this," the red-haired Charles said in a deep voice. "All the horses he brought have been sold. Someone witnessed the entire transaction taking place outside the clinic. The buyer was that Eastern magician who recently came to St. Quintak and whose performances at the theater are always a huge hit. It makes perfect sense that his team needed horses and therefore purchased a large number from him."

"Oh?" Angelo frowned. "That magician, is he also a foreigner?"

“That’s right,” Charles nodded. “Their troupe has more than twenty people, all of whom are foreigners.”

"Alright, give them a good beating!" Angelo said through gritted teeth, his voice filled with rage. "Damn it, a bunch of yellow-skinned barbarians, daring to come here and perform some kind of art? Don't they know who they are? They're asking for death!"

"First, take down that theater troupe, the worse the better! Then spread the word that everyone in this city knows that daring to cooperate with that bastard is to offend the Italians. And those who offend the Italians..."

"Not one of them can escape unscathed!"

Chapter 228: It's about absorbing power, and at an extremely high level!

"Tsk, another one..." The guard glanced at Zhang Renfeng with ill intent, then gestured with his lip, "Go register over there and see if you can get a spot later."

At the San Quintac docks, large numbers of idle people gathered, in high spirits.

The already crowded dock became even more bustling, with cheers rising like waves. Laborers who had finished unloading cargo, cowboys with nothing to do, and even beggars and thugs loitering in the streets, all surrounded the area like an iron barrel. Looking at the vast crowd, Zhang Renfeng realized that, just like casinos and bootlegging, Angelo had turned underground boxing into a lucrative business.

For those at the bottom of society, it's the best "bread and circus" for releasing stress and hormones.

"I'm not here to compete, I'm here as a spectator!"

After he emphasized this, the guard looked at him even more strangely, sizing him up and down before saying impatiently, "You have to bet to watch the game, at least $1, no upper limit. If you've thought it through, go over there and place your bet."

After all, most of the people who come here to watch boxing matches are from the lower classes and don't have much money in their pockets. The betting odds also follow the path of small profits but quick turnover.

Victory or defeat.

fight.

They fought with their fists.